How to Polish Laminate Floors

A good cleaning and applying a laminate polish can give your floors that brand-new shine.

Laminate flooring, loved for its durability, price, and range of color choices, is relatively low maintenance when compared to other types of flooring. Despite this, the laminate can lose its shine over time, typically due to a buildup of dirt and grime. Unlike wood floors, you cannot wax it, and using any type of soap-based product will actually make the floors duller. A good cleaning and a product specifically meant for laminate floors will make the laminate look like new.

1

Thoroughly sweep the floor, removing any crumbs, dust, pet hair, or other dirt. Clean along the walls and underneath furniture, as dirt and hair tend to slide across laminate flooring; if you just get the visible areas, any slight change in the air can push dirt out from its hiding place and onto the floor, causing you to have to sweep all over again. A dusting mop or broom and dustpan are typically best for this; however, a vacuum with a hard floor setting can also do a thorough job.

2

Add one cup of distilled white vinegar to a gallon of warm water. Clean the floor with this mixture using a soft mop. Although there are laminate flooring cleaners on the market that are not soap based, good old-fashioned vinegar tends to produce the best results.

3

Fill up your bucket with clean, warm water and go over the floors again. This will help the vinegar smell dissipate more quickly and ensure there’s no build-up on your floors. Use a clean, dry, lint-free cloth and dry the floor in a circular motion by hand.

4

Shake a bottle of laminate floor polish gently and then squirt, spray, or pour some on the floor, starting in the farthest corner of the room. Spread the polish with a lint-free clean mop, microfiber towel, or the apparatus that was sold with the floor polish.

5

Apply the polish in small sections, working your way backward out of the room. Let the product dry according to the manufacturer's directions, and then apply a second coat in the same manner if necessary. Avoid walking on the floor for at least 24 hours for the best results.

Things You Will Need

Broom and dustpan (optional)

Dusting mop (optional)

Vacuum with hard floor setting (optional)

Bucket

Distilled white vinegar

Mop

Clean cloth

Laminate floor polish

Lint-free cloth mop

Tip

If you’re opposed to using vinegar to clean the floors, you can use a cleaner made specifically for laminate flooring or mix one part ammonia to three parts water. If purchasing a cleaner, ensure that the product is specifically meant for laminate: using hardwood cleaner or polish on laminate will lead to dull, sticky floors.